HIGHLAND PARK ·We tr th ye r hould be h ppy nd po Hive time, free of nxiety nd fe r that exu I encounters "A frl nd' upport I v ry Important with girl' d cl Ion ." inevitably ere te," ay Elayne Bennett, Be t Friend program director, who, together with Phylli Magrab, M.D., the Georgetown Center's director: de igned the progr m. Initi lIy the developers thought about putting Be t Friend in the high chool , ay progr m coordinator Andrea Ma englle .. But high chool tudent said the message was coming too late. "I THINK that you should present the program to younger people," one girl aid. Many girls our age [15-16] have already been 'forced' into h ving ex and w nted to be a s y 'no:" The girls agreed, owever, that peer upport as a key to prevention. "A friend's upport is very important with a girl' decisions." aid another girl. "I think often the only reason girls do have sex in high school is because of pressure from peers and a lack of support from friends." So Best Friends starts with girls in the sixth grade, then continue the program through junior high. Since the program began four years ago, no gi rl participating in Best Friends has gotten pregnant. The girls become part of a trong network of friends who meet several times a month with a trained counselor to talk about friendship, love and d ting, responsible decision-making, and self-respect. In addition, each girl asks a teacher whom she likes to become her mentor and meet with her at least 45 minutes each week 0 talk. THE GIRLS ALSO have regular opportunities during their group meetings to talk with succe ful women in the community. Kay Jame and Deborah DuCre of the One-to-One Foundation, which . supports mentoring programs, visited several Best Friends groups not long ago. Both wome n' found the gi rls ' re ponsivene and enthusiasm for the program were heartening-" not to menu- all the hugs," says Ms. Jame ... "The program means the world to the girls," says DuCre. "I could ee it in their , relationships wi th their mentors and in the way they related to each other. II With a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Best Friends is expanding into schools in Denver. Los Angeles, and Dade and Lee counties in Florida. For more information contact Andrea Mas engile, 2233 Wiscon in Ave., N.W., Suite 215. Washington, D.C. 20007. Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children Defense Fund, a national voice lor children. HIOH 0 P - The High- I nd P r Ci'Y Coun il ref ed to m e ny motion in re po e to yor Marth O. Scott' reque t for council penni ion to tem- porary finance director. In tead council members urge that th Mayo appoint a p rman nt finan director. Fin nee Director Milton Hall aid ccount. there w not enough money in the Ford ugge ted that th pre nt . budget for CPA, which would cont ion reg rding th mount of competative with industry. money in the drug forfeiture fund Council Pre ident Linsey Porter might not h ve exi ted, If the council aid the council could add more greed to n udit Scott reque ted money to the po ilion's alary. He when h first too office. added that the charter did not ay a Franklin dmitted it wa cus- finance director had to be a CPA. tomary for the council to do this Council woman Chris tine when th m yor first too office to Franklin aid th charter pecified clarify the city' financial situation that the mayor-was obligated to ,ap- S •• CONFLICT, Page 18 point a permanent finance director. . ORD P IZED he does not know whether there . problem in regard to money in t drug forfei- ture fund, but ted if there i , it ul from tin pro dure which go k to the p t admini tra­ tion of former Mayor Robert B. Blac ell. He aid Mayor Scott recently made improvements in ccountin procedure . Council Pre ident Lins y Porter, H.P. City Coun II oppo of t mpor ry fin nc dlr y 0 idency," he , We'll pay. for your eye exam See us now! SPECIALS on: Mu ic Tape Custom Air Brushing Ladle W ar Snack Shop Seater I Jogging Suitsl Baseball Outfit Clothe *Electronic *Gold Jewelry/Beeper and much much mor ... Mon. thru Sat. 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Clo. d On Sunday. BOYS' SIZES 8-20 AVE � AM OUtettW ... All BIiIOIcpIICIIlCe & All Oeht